Latching adapter for installation on a cable connector

Abstract

An adapter is configured to be installed on an existing cable, extending along a connector of the cable to present a latching surface on a flexible arm of the adapter for engagement with a latching surface within a latching member adjacent a port connector of a device. When these latching surfaces are engaged with one another, the cable connector is held in engagement with the port connector. The flexible arm may then be manually depressed to release the engagement of these latching surfaces. The adapter is installed on the existing cable by placing the cord of the cable between a pair of hooks extending in opposite directions from the adapter, and by then turning the adapter on the cord so that the hooks are brought into position to extend partly around the cord.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. Apparatus for holding a cable, including a cord and a cable connector, in engagement with a port connector of a device, wherein said apparatus comprises: 
       a latching member, including a first latching surface, in said device; and  
       an adapter extending along said cable connector, wherein said adapter includes clamping surfaces holding said adapter in a fixed relationship with said cable connector with said cable connector disengaged from said port connector and with said cable connector engaged with said port connector, wherein said clamping surfaces include a pair of spaced-apart hooks extending partly around said cord from opposite directions with said adapter held in said fixed relationship with said cable connector, wherein said adapter is brought into said fixed relationship with said cable connector by placing said adapter over said cord with said cord extending between said spaced-apart hooks and by rotating said adapter relative to said cord as said hooks are moved into engagement with said cord, wherein said adapter additionally includes a second latching surface held in engagement with said first latching surface when said cable connector fully engages said port connector, and wherein said adapter additionally includes an externally accessible actuation surface movable to disengage said second latching surface from said first latching surface.  
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim  1 , wherein said clamping surfaces additionally include surfaces engaging said cable connector maintain alignment between said adapter and said cable connector. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim  1 , wherein 
       said adapter additionally includes a flexible latching arm, extending as a cantilever in a distal direction along said adapter,  
       said second latching surface extends along said flexible latching arm adjacent a distal end thereof, and  
       said externally accessible actuation surface extends along said flexible latching arm between said second latching surface and a proximal end of said flexible latching arm.  
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim  3 , wherein 
       said second latching surface includes a plurality of serrations, and  
       said second latching surface includes a tooth extending into engagement with a serration within said plurality thereof.  
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim  4 , wherein 
       said latching member includes first guiding surfaces forming a first cavity and second guiding surfaces forming a second cavity,  
       said cable connector extends within said first cavity in engagement with said port connector,  
       said adapter extends within said second cavity with said cable connector in engagement with said port connector, and  
       said tooth extends within said second cavity.  
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim  4 , wherein 
       said latching member includes first guiding surfaces forming a first cavity and second guiding surfaces forming a second cavity,  
       said cable connector extends within said first cavity in engagement with said port connector,  
       said adapter extends within said second cavity with said cable connector in engagement with said port connector, and  
       said second latching surface extends within said second cavity.  
     
     
       7. An adapter for releasably engaging a first latching surface to hold a cable, including a cord and a cable connector, in engagement with a port connector of a device including said first latching surface, wherein said adapter comprises: 
       clamping surfaces holding said adapter in a fixed relationship with said cable connector with said cable connector disengaged from said port connector and with said cable connector engaged with said port connector wherein said clamping surfaces include a pair of spaced-apart hooks extending partly around said cord from opposite directions with said adapter held in said fixed relationship with said cable connector, and wherein said adapter is brought into said fixed relationship with said cable connector by placing said adapter over said cord with said cord extending between said spaced-apart hooks and by rotating said adapter relative to said cord as said hooks are moved into engagement with said cord;  
       a second latching surface held in engagement with said first latching surface when said cable connector fully engages said port connector; and  
       an externally accessible actuation surface movable to disengage said second latching surface from said first latching surface.  
     
     
       8. The adapter of claim  7 , wherein said clamping surfaces additionally include surfaces engaging said cable connector maintain alignment between said adapter and said cable connector. 
     
     
       9. The adapter of claim  7 , wherein 
       said adapter additionally includes a flexible latching arm, extending as a cantilever in a distal direction along said adapter,  
       said second latching surface extends along said flexible latching arm adjacent a distal end thereof, and  
       said externally accessible actuation surface extends along said flexible latching arm between said second latching surface and a proximal end of said flexible latching arm.  
     
     
       10. The adapter of claim  9 , wherein said second latching surface includes a plurality of serrations, and 
       a serration within said plurality thereof engages said first latching surface.